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Write-Only Memory - Not really a Special Report, but here's Signetic's 1972 Write Only Memory datasheet. "The 25120 is easily cooled by employment of a six-foot fan, 1/2" from the package. If the device fails, you have exceeded the ratings. In such cases, more air is recommended.". The datasheet is a hoot!

Debouncing - There's a lot of smoke and mirrors in typical debounce code. Magic numbers, tuned software that breaks whenever anything changes. This is the definitive guide to debouncing switches and contacts. It includes plenty of empirical data taken from a wide variety of switches.

Firmware Standards Manual - By it's very nature computer code is cryptic. Wise developers employ standards to enhance readability. Note that all safety critical code must conform to a standard... so why don't all of us who wish to create great software do the same? Here's a firmware standard.

Watchdog Timers - I've examined hundreds of watchdog timers over the years. Few - very few - are completely robust. A watchdog is the last line of defense before the systems dies. It has to be awesomely designed. Check out Great Watchdogs for some ideas.

Commenting - Ah, comments. We all write them (usually). We all read them (and never believe a word we read). Comments are as important as the code itself, yet usually they're a poorly-written afterthought. In my opinion they should be a fore-thought, written before we start typing in curly braces. Here's a Guide to Commenting with suggestions.

Testing RAM - Did you know that a RAM test on DRAM whose refresh circuitry has fried will pass? Or that impedance issues mean good RAM tests cleverly drive the address & data busses in a way to create the worst-case electromagnetic effects? Nearly all the RAM tests I run into are lousy. Here's what you need to know about Testing RAM in Embedded Systems.

Code Inspections - There is a silver bullet that greatly reduces defects while saving development time. Though we've known about it since 1976 few developers routinely employ it. A Guide to Code Inspections gives the facts and the techniques.

Microprocessor History - The first commercial microprocessor appeared over 40 years ago. The history of this invention is really interesting - find it here.

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